Chapter 251: The Deliberation Concluded

"The lands outside the Datong garrison now belong to the Western Tumed, Chahar, and other tribes for pasturage. We should open frontier trade markets at the four locations of Zhenlu, Yulin, Tucheng, and Liangmatai." Zhu Dadian pointed at the four spots marked on the map, but as he spoke, he also watched the reactions of the other ministers.

The moment he finished speaking, a wave of commotion rose among the officials present.

"Frontier trade markets? Zhu Dadian, don't you forget what happened to the merchants who went beyond the passes to do business in previous years!"

"This move violates ancestral institutions — a hundred harms and not a single benefit. Absolutely not!"

Jiang Dejing, Second Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, had been waiting for Wei Zaode to make the final call, but hearing the fierce opposition around him and Wei Zaode's continued silence, he finally stepped forward and said: "Everyone, calm yourselves. This matter is precisely what we've been convened to discuss. As for whether it will work, that depends on your views and His Majesty's wishes."

"His Majesty summoned everyone to the Grand Secretariat's signing room not to debate whether or not to open trade markets. The grain problem is what needs a resolution today — otherwise none of us can answer to His Majesty."

Jiang Dejing's words instantly brought the assembled ministers' minds back to the main topic of this deliberation, and many suddenly remembered — right, if the trade markets weren't opened, how could the grain shortfall ever be filled?

And if it couldn't be filled, that tyrant would use that as another pretext to purge the Six Ministries — what would they do then?

"This move may be inadvisable. The four cities are all beyond the passes, and to this day the guard stations have been fully withdrawn within the passes. If Han merchants go out to trade and the court offers no protection, we will lose our prestige before the whole realm!"

The room fell silent for a while before someone stepped forward. The assembled turned to look and saw it was Wang Shaowei, Minister of Rites: "Gentlemen, do you still remember Guihua City, completed in the third year of Wanli? Why not reactivate Guihua City once more as the center for frontier trade?"

After Wang Shaowei finished, the others nodded continuously and began discussing amongst themselves. Even Wei Zaode, Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, appeared lost in thought, neither endorsing nor rejecting.

Indeed, although the four locations Zhu Dadian had proposed were currently the court's best options, for these ministers they were hardly good news.

Before the guard stations had been withdrawn, these four places still had Han residents living there. Though beyond the Great Wall, there were still small businesses like inns — as long as one had money, life wasn't too hard.

The pasturage lands of the Western Tumed were different from the Doyan region. By comparison, this area was practically barren — not a blade of grass grew. Even calling it pasturage was generous, for even the Tumed Mongols themselves kept far from the border, and the few remaining patches of grassland were so precious that they covered less than a third of the land.

"Still inadvisable!" Just as the discussion was underway, Grand Secretary Liu Yingbin suddenly stepped forward and declared in a loud voice: "Guihua City was built by Altan Khan in imitation of the old Yuan capital system. To open trade markets with them there — would that not be tantamount to acknowledging the Mongols as descendants of the former Yuan dynasty? Inadvisable, truly inadvisable!"

"Grand Secretary Liu, that's not how you should put it!" Feng Quan gave a cold snort and said with a smile: "When Emperor Shenzong, the Wanli Emperor, bestowed the name Guihua City and permitted trade there — what, does Grand Secretary Liu dare to defy ancestral institutions?"

"Minister Feng, don't try to pin such a big hat on me! Everyone in the realm knows that you, Minister Feng, enjoy the Emperor's deep favor. Using ancestral institutions to crush me — I don't buy that act!" Liu Yingbin snorted coldly in return, showing not the slightest deference.

"Has the present Son of Heaven ever honored any ancestral institution? If the Son of Heaven does not obey them, why should we ministers? When the ancestors named it Guihua City, they never imagined matters would reach this point. Times have changed — the trade markets bring a hundred harms and not a single benefit. Let the matter be dropped!"

Feng Quan was momentarily speechless. Wang Shaowei, Minister of Personnel, caught the implication and stepped forward with a cold laugh: "Grand Secretary Liu certainly puts on quite an air of authority — a mere Grand Secretary, daring to compare himself to the present Emperor?"

Feng Quan thought to himself that this Wang fellow truly had learned his craft from his days with Nine Thousand Years — opening his mouth and going straight for the throat. He too smiled and responded: "Indeed! Though we sit as fellow Grand Secretaries, this minister has never seen anyone wield such authority as Grand Secretary Liu!"

Seeing another dispute flare up — and one between the Emperor's faction and the remnants of the Donglin Faction at that — Wei Zaode, Chief Grand Secretary, who had himself once been a Donglin man, felt uneasy at heart even though he was now the Emperor's number one lackey.

All things considered, he could no longer remain silent. He cleared his throat twice, and once the room had quieted, he spoke:

"Minister Feng, Grand Secretary Liu — the matters of grain and trade markets are not yet settled. It grows late, so let us not wander off track. Back to the main topic."

"Hmph."

Though Liu Yingbin held the Emperor's faction men — Wei Zaode, Jiang Dejing, Feng Quan, Wang Shaowei, and the rest — in contempt, Wei Zaode was after all the Chief Grand Secretary, and he could not openly show disrespect.

Seeing that Liu Yingbin had stopped speaking, Feng Quan, as if having forgotten the quarrel entirely, stepped forward with a beaming smile and said:

"Has anyone here personally been beyond the Great Wall?" Seeing no one answer, Feng Quan's lips curled upward. "This official has been beyond the passes. Setting aside other irrelevant matters, let me first ask you all — what of Shandong?"

Ni Yuanlu, Minister of Revenue, said: "It is a land of dire poverty. Minister Feng, what is the meaning of your question?"

"That place, Shandong — truly harsh mountains, vicious waters, and many unruly folk!" Jiang Dejing said.

"Exactly so. Shandong is a land of dire poverty — does anyone here wish to go?" Seeing the ministers all shake their heads after his question, Feng Quan smiled again: "If even Shandong is like that, then the Doyan lands beyond the passes are far worse off still. And as for this Guihua region beyond the Datong border — aside from those Mongol barbarians, it has long been devoid of human traces."

"Gentlemen, think on this — in a place like that, the one thing never in short supply is cattle and sheep. These barbarians are used to their milk, wine, and meat, but they've never seen many of the fine goods from within the passes — even if their eyes went dizzy, they couldn't take it all in. Using these trifles to trade for their cattle and sheep, while also accomplishing the task His Majesty has set before us — why wouldn't we do it?"

"That does make sense." Ni Yuanlu nodded and said: "This course is feasible."

"It's already the hour of xu. His Majesty is on his way to the Winter Warm Pavilion. If you submit it now, this servant can still deliver it before His Majesty's carriage arrives." Li Chun suddenly appeared from behind the door, yawning as he spoke: "Don't say this servant didn't warn you gentlemen — you all know His Majesty's temper. If he reaches the Warm Pavilion and doesn't see the memorial, then it won't be a mere seal-holder of the Palace Maintenance Directorate like this servant who gets to put in a word."

Feng Quan understood the implication and hurried forward with a genial smile: "Rest assured, Eunuch. The matter has been settled here — we're just waiting for Chief Grand Secretary Wei to finish writing it up before handing it to you to present."

"Settled?" Liu Yingbin's eyes went wide. "Feng Quan, what has been settled? This matter hasn't even begun to take shape! I'm telling you — the precedent of these trade markets must never be opened again!"

Throughout all this, Feng Quan bustled about, a sunny smile perpetually fixed on his face, as if completely oblivious to Liu Yingbin's existence.

"If you would be so kind as to present this to His Majesty for his perusal, Eunuch."

"Mm."

The Chongzhen Emperor had slept well and was leisurely making his way to the Winter Warm Pavilion. Seating himself and seeing the memorial that had been waiting for some time, he was in good spirits and asked with a smile:

"Li Chun, in the past these deliberations always ran deep into the night. What ailment struck them today?"

Li Chun chuckled and replied: "To answer Your Majesty — knowing that Your Majesty had awakened, those ministers grew anxious. To be honest with Your Majesty, this servant sees little to debate. Two Grand Secretaries and a few Ministers could have settled it directly."

"Had it not been for one ungrateful wretch obstructing the proceedings, it would have been faster still."

The Chongzhen Emperor was rather surprised to hear this. After the last purge by association, someone still dared to oppose him at court. He asked: "Who?"

"To answer Your Majesty — it is that Grand Secretary named Liu Yingbin."

"That man again." The Chongzhen Emperor shook his head and said: "You may go. I know now. Have Wang Cheng'en come to the Winter Warm Pavilion to see me."

"As Your Majesty commands."